Boarding your horse at a professional facility can often be the best option for you and your horse, but what board style best suits your lifestyle and your horse? We will cover five popular styles of horse boarding and what to expect.
DIY Board
DIY Board is best suited for the owner who likes to be hands on and take responsibility for their horses daily needs. When signing up for DIY board, the facility is tasked with providing space for your horse in the form of a stall and/or turnout space. Typically, DIY boarders are required to purchase and source hay, bedding, grain, routine farrier/veterinarian care, and anything else desired or required to care for your horse. Although this form of board is labour intensive it will allow you the opportunity to be hands on with your horse, to ensure they receive the standard of care you expect, and will save you money on your monthly board bill.
Partial Board
Partial board can come in a variety of forms, and often the horse owner and stable manager can work out a custom plan that works best for the horse and horse owner. Partial board is similar to DIY Board in that typically the horse’s owner will complete some or all of the daily care such as mucking out, feeding, turning out, etc. However, unlike DIY Board the facility will also include hay, bedding, and grain. In some instances these responsibilities may be reversed where the boarding facility is responsible for the daily care, but the horse’s owner will supply hay, bedding, and grain. The flexibility of a partial board can be very useful, and it is a great option to pick a boarding option that works for you, your schedule, and could save you money in the long run!
Full Care
Full care is a boarding arrangement that provides the stall/turnout, hay, grain, bedding, and in addition the basic daily care for your horse will be completed by the staff at the facility. Many boarding facilities that offer full care options will offer additional services like grooming, blanketing, clipping, bathing, and exercising. This style of board is great for the horse owner with a busy and full schedule, but it can be expensive.
Pasture Board
Pasture board is a great option for horses that don’t require stalling, youngstock, and breeding stock who benefit from grazing. The facility will provide a turnout space with shelter, and in some cases may provide additional hay or grain. Daily care/check can be provided by the facility, or by the horse owner depending on the individual agreement, but is by far one of the most economical ways of boarding your horse.